VERNON Philander destroyed Australia with figures of five for 21 as South Africa rolled them over for 85 on day one of the second Test in Hobart.

Philander, who has a brief spell with Somerset at the start of the 2012 season, got into the early order and went on to take his tenth five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Philander spent part of his cricket apprenticeship playing league cricket in Devon with Budleigh Salterton as a 19-year-old all-rounder.

Sharing the new ball with Philander was Kyle Abbott, another South African with strong West Country connections.

Abbott, who had three for 41, played Devon League cricket with Lewdown before breaking into the First Class game.

Only Aussie skipper Steve Smith offered any resistance. Smith struck five fours in an unbeaten 48, with debutant Joe Mennie, coming in at number eight, the only other batsman to make double figures.

Australia's bowlers did fight back to claim five wickets in the final session but the Proteas finished the day on 171 for five - already a lead of 86 runs.

Among the South African casualties was J P Duminy, another player with West Country links. Duminy had a season with Exmouth in 2003,averaging 99.33 and taking centuries off Braunton and Plymouth.